Woman employee serves notice of sexual harassment on ISCRISAT

A woman employee of ISCRISAT alleged sexual harassment by a senior colleague and sent a legal notice to the management stating that no proper action was taken on her complaint. In her notice, the young scientist said that the governing body on sexual harassment by her boss in January 13 said that though she agreed not to pursue the case if the accused tender a public apology but it did not happen, she said. She alleged of severe being put up to severe trauma caused because she was made to continue in the same department despite specific rules made it mandatory for the complainant and accused to be separated in the workplace are some of the allegations among others.

Governing board responds

Replying to the notice, NJ Poole, Chairman of the governing body of ISCRISAT said that they will request the management to reopen it afresh. He said that the accused had tendered an apology which was accepted by the complainant and was resolved and closed, he said. In his counter reply, he said "In so far as failure to prevent further harassment and alleged victimisation is concerned, your client did not seek transfer from the unit and in fact, she was not immediately answerable to (the accused) per se," the ICRISAT reply said.

However, your client contended that an "oral apology before three people in a closed door meeting is not an adequate response to acts of sexual harassment committed by the accused openly".